Of all the people they could have called up, why me. Ari thought inwardly. She was panicking, sweat dripping from her pores. What could she do? What form would she transform into this time? These were all thoughts racing through her head right now at this very moment, all in less than a few seconds.
It was true. There were plenty of other students gathered in front of the school waiting their turn to be tested. All these teens, definitely more eager to shift and show their powers as hybrids, and she was one of the few in the courtyard to not. In fact, she was possibly the least eager of them all at the moment.
There was obviously plenty of other possible candidates for them to test first. I don't understand how I can be this unlucky? If anyone other than the staff finds out about my unique hybrid forms, I'll be on everyone's mind. I don't want to stand out here!
The crowd around her moved their heads from side to side, wondering who I was. Curious as they were, they started to ask anyone next to them their names. In a way, this unfortunate circumstance for me was a way that allowed them to get to know one another if they already haven't. I noticed this, soon they'd get to asking me too.
Suddenly, the fellow next to me coughed slightly. I could tell he saw how obviously nervous I am right now. I knew what he was going to say, and I dreaded the next words from his mouth. But they would come none the less. And there was nothing I could do. It was inevitable at this point.
"Um? Excuse me." He said. "Are you Ari XXXX?" He was about the same hight as me, but a bit taller. His jaw was boxy, but not quite chubby enough to be considered not handsome. It was only a brief glance at his face before I went back to looking at the floor beneath me, but I noticed this much.
He was waiting on my answer. But I was still hesitant to give it, despite probably being the only one in the entire crowd of my peers who hadn't given their name yet. And I had to give it sooner or later, right? There was no avoiding it any longer as I spit it out reluctantly.
"Yes, I'm Ari XXXX." I finally said it. I squeezed my eyes hard, afraid for the reaction of people who heard me and this boy's conversation. I wondered if anyone would yell my position out for all to hear. And I wondered if this boy before me would too, having been the one to initially ask for confirmation on my name.
To my surprise, the boy continued to look at me. He must've not heard me. I didn't say it that loud after all because I didn't want to be found out at all. And because I was mumbling, it only made sense. And if he, who was closest to me, hadn't heard it, than the hybrids around me definitely didn't either.
However, just as that bit of hope was found of me not being recognized just yet, the Principal up front pointed from the podium. Him. From the stage. Directly at me.
"You there! Ari XXXX!" He called to me. "Come up to the testing area. It's time to begin your orientation." As he said this, his hand was changing colour to a shade of green. His hand that was just used to call me out amongst the crowd was turning into a kind of vine.
The reach of his limb extended as the plant grew, getting closer to me. The kids in front of me parted to make way for this leafy appendage. Each of them did not want to risk getting caught in the crossfire of this speedily approaching plant arm.
Soon this arm was a mere inches in fronting me. It wrapped its tendrils around my body and I was unwillingly brought to the stage. Even though I knew that the headmaster was in complete control of it, I was still scared. It was definitely strong, as no amount of struggling loosened its grip on me.
"Ah, There we go!" The principal said. "That's much better. Now the festivities of the new semester can begin!" The group of my new peers all stared at me as he made this statement.
They all wanted to be first. And me being picked before them, a nobody in their eyes, was an insult. I probably made a few enemies in the few seconds after my feet touched the floor of the stage set for the test. I could feel the countless flares as they looked upon me, wondering, likely, what type of hybrid I was. In truth, even I didn't know the answer to that question myself.
I knew I was required to shift my form now. I knew that's what they were all waiting for. I was the main event to start off with. I was in the spotlight. I just hoped to any and all gods out there that my form would be something common yet powerful enough to stay right in the middle of the ranking system to blend in.
Then I began to shift...
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End of Chapter